Portable drinking water fountain



Nov. 7, 1967 F. P. ABSHIRE PORTABLE DRINKING WATER FOUNTAIN 2Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept.

Rm Wm EA WM V. T m 2 1 m L K N A R F B Q/ M /f 7 f fW F. P. ABSHIRE Nov.7, 1967 PORTABLE DRINKING WATER FOUNTAIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept.

INVENTOR.

FRANKLIN P. ABSHIRE BY I ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,351,286PORTABLE DRINKING WATER FOUNTAIN Franklin P. Abshire, 5333 W. EdgemontAve., Phoenix, Ariz. 85035 Filed Sept. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 485,478 2Claims. (Cl. 23929.3)

My invention relates to a portable drinking water fountain, and moreparticularly to a portable drinking water fountain adapted to contain aplentiful supply of ice and a continuous supply of water furnished to itunder pressure to provide the propulsion means for producing the waterbubbling action.

There are many parts of the country where the supplying of readilyavailable drinking water in cold condition presents many problems. Inmany areas, public drinking water piped to homes will be at asufficiently low temperature for drinking even during the hottest summerweather. On the contrary, in some of the very warm climates such as inthe southwest, the water temperature in delivery lines may be as hot as70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, particularly in instances where the wateris drawn from an outside faucet. Whether it be because of thetemperature of the water involved or for sanitary reasons, it has been acommon practice to supply cold water in Dewar vessels or speciallydesigned buckets supported in heat-insulating material for the inclusionof water together with ice to extend the period during which drinkingwater may be kept in a cold condition. Such pour receptacles arefrequently provided with an integral cap used as a cup for drinkingpurposes, but the use of such cap or cup by a number of persons presentsa problem in sanitation. Sometimes paper cups are provided but the useof paper cups results in additional problems, notably the disposal ofthe paper cups to prevent litter and the cost and bother of obtainingand making available when needed cups suitable for the intended purpose.

I am aware that it is a common practice to provide fountains withsuitable bubbler spouts in public locations and to chill the watereither by means of a refrigeration unit or by packing coils throughwhich the water passes in chipped ice. Fountains of this type are notsuitable for private or home use nor for use by small parties in thebackyard or patio or other places where a group of people having commoninterests may gather.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention toprovide a fountain for private use from which cold water under pressuremay be delivered and preferably such a fountain in which the supply ofwater is replenished as it is used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination drinkingfountain and cold-storage container which may be a conventional type ofreceptacle and which is readily connectable to a source of pressure forforcing water contained in the receptacle to and through a bubblerspout.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide arelatively large heat-insulated receptacle which may contain severaltrays of ice cubes taken from an "ordinary refrigerator and provide acap therefor which is releasably attached to the container to cover itsusual top opening. The cap is provided with an exteriorly threadedapertured boss for attachment of a fitting, as of a water hose, todeliver water to the interior of the container and provide pressure forforcing the water through a bubbler spout provided on the top surface ofthe cap. A passageway running from the container through the spout isnormally closed by a spring-pressed valve ,Which may be digitallyoperated to release water generally upwardly so that the Water may bedrunk directly without the use of a cup or glass in the same manner aswater is drunk from public fountains. Suitably also, the drainagePatented Nov. 7, 1967 receptacle is provided in such a position thatwater passing through the bubbler spout and not consumed be projecteddirectly into the receptacle for drainage to a selected area.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the way in which the device of mypresent invention may appear when not in use;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the portable bubblerfountain of the present invention as it is set up ready for use, such asin a home patio;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2illustrating the valve mechanism by means of which the flow of waterfrom the container is controlled;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view like FIG. 3 but showing the parts in theposition which they assume when water is flowing; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing amodification in the manner of delivering the water.

Looking now first to FIGS. 1 through 4, the device of my presentinvention includes an inner container 11 with a neck 12 at the top ofwhich is an opening adapted to be closed by a cap indicated generally bythe reference character 13 and attachable to the neck 12 by means ofscrew threads in the manner particularly shown in FIG. 2.

Surrounding the container 11 is a housing comprising an upper housingportion 14 and a bottom housing portion 16, the bottom edge of the upperhousing portion 14 having a special groove 17, and the top edge of thebottom housing portion 16 having an annular rounded tongue 18, themembers 17 and 18 being so constructed that when the upper and lowerhousing portions are forced together, the members 17 and 18 will assumethe position shown in FIG. 2 with a snap action so as to lock the twohousing portions together and form a continuous outer housing. A space19 between the container 11 and outer housing is adapted to contain asuitable heat-insulating material such as, without limiting thegenerality, a foam plastic material which may, if desired, be expandedin position so as to take exactly the shape of the space between thecontainer 11 and the outer housing portion.

To secure the housing portion in position, the neck 12 is provided withan annular exterior groove in which a compressible gasket 21 isinsertable. The upper housing portion 14 has a generally cylindricalupper projection 22 which engages the outside of the gasket 21frictionally and the parts are held together rigidly in this manner.Other constructions, of course, may be provided, but I have found that ahousing shaped and assembled in this manner is relatively inexpensivelyproduced and is very effective for the purpose.

As already pointed out, the container 11 is adapted to contain a supplyof ice and water under pressure. A suitable gasket 23 setting on top ofan enlarged top portion of the neck 12 is compressed between the neckportion and the cap 13 so as to provide a firm seal. For introduction ofwater under pressure, or other pressure-creating medium, the cap 13carries an upwardly projecting boss 24 exteriorly threaded to receive asuitable fitting and having an opening 26 through which water underpressure may pass.

It should be understood that an ordinary garden hose can, if desired, beattached to the boss 24, but preferably a special heat-resistinginsulation is provided as shown in FIG. 2. Here, a special faucet 27receives water from the regular house water pipe 28 and delivers thesame under pressure controlled by a valve stem 29 to a copper tube 31provided with an insulating coating 32. The copper tube 31 is providedwith a flared fitting 33 and a threaded clamping ring 34 which isthreaded onto the boss 24 to releasably attach the water supply to thecontainer without leakage and under conditions such that even in thehottest weather, there will be very little heat imparted to the water asit flows from the pipe 28 to the container 11.

The cap 13 is provided with a central thickened portion 36 through whicha vertical circular uniform diameter passageway stands but which isprovided with a top recess or enlargement 37 in which a coiled spring 38may, under the conditions to be described, be held in compression. Abutton spout assembly includes a spout 39 and a button 41 spaced fromeach other together with an integral pistonlike downward projection 42containing a passageway 43 which also extends through the spout 39. Thissame assembly contains an annular flange 44 which engages on top of thespring 38 and holds the spring between such annular projection and ashoulder formed on the central thickened portion of the cap. A sealingwasher 46 may be disposed in an annular exterior groove in thepiston-like projection 42, or as shown in the drawing, the bottom of thepistonlike projection 42 may be threaded to receive a cap nut 47 tofacilitate insertion of the Washer 46 and the provision of a firm sealat this point. It should be noted that the piston-like downwardprojection 42 fits relatively snugly so that the possibility of seepageof water along its exterior is lessened.

In its normal position, the spring 38 maintains the parts in theposition shown in FIG. 3. Here it should be noted that there is a radialpassageway 48 connected to the passageway 43, and that when the valvemechanism comprising the piston-like projection 42 is held upwardly,radial passageway 48 is maintained out of contact with a source of waterand no water will flow. When, however, the entire assembly is digitallydepressed by engaging the thumb or finger on the button 41 and pressingdownwardly, the radial passageway 48 is brought to a position below thecap 13 and water can flow through the radial passageway 48, into thepassageway 43 and out through the bubbler spout 39.

The upper housing portion 14 has a drainage receptacle 51 forming a partof it, with a drainage spout 52 to which a rubber hose 53 is readilyattachable. This hose may be led to any desired place in a patio, in aflower bed or in a grass plot for drainage. The receptacle 51 is sopositioned that under normal pressure of about 40 pounds of waterpressure, water passing through the bubble spout 39 will fail within thedrainage receptacle 51. A cover 54 in the general shape of a cap isfrictionally supported over the cap 13 to protect the same when not inuse. It should be borne in mind that while the device of the presentinvention is preferably supplied with its own container, the cap 13providing the functions described may be utilized with any otherconventional container and may be attached to the container as the usualclosure of such container would be attached, namely, by threading, or bymerely inserting it frictionally such as is done in some instances.

It should be noted that while additional water is normally entering thecontainer as water is drawn, the water within the container will remaincool for a relatively long period of time due to the heat diffusion ofthe ice. For this reason it is advisable to introduce a liberal supplyof ice to the container when its use is started. In this connection itshould be noted also that while normally ice cubes will be used, it ispossible to partially fill the container with water and set thecontainer in the freezing compartment of a refrigerator to provide amass of ice somewhat greater in total amount than can be obtained by theuse of separately frozen cubes. I have found that the capacity of theportable bubbler of the present invention is of the order of five to tentimes that of the capacity of the same container it merely filled withcold water and the water poured therefrom. In this connection, it alsoshould be noted that the device of the present invention may be used asan ordinary thermos receptacle by placing a cap on the boss 24 andremoving it to pour water therefrom into a suitable paper cup or thelike.

Those skilled in the art should understand that the container 11 may beproduced in many sizes depending specifically on the use to which theportable drinking water fountain of the present invention is to beused.,If it is employed in a private home in a hot area on a patio, forexample, I have found that a good size container is one which will holdabout three trays of ice cubes. Water may be passed into and throughsuch a container for a considerable period of time with a supply of coldwater always available. Depending upon the amount of water consumed, itis possible, say in two or three hours, to remove the cap 13, replenishthe ice which is now refrozen in the refrigerator, and again restore thedevice of the present invention to operation. If, on the other hand, thecontainer is to be taken to a position where it cannot readily bereplenished with ice, a somewhat larger container may be desired. FIG..5 illustrates one form which the invention may take under suchcircumstances. Here the radial passageway 48 may be brought into contactwith a passageway in the thickened portion 36 of the cap when the entiredevice is in lowered position. A tubular extension 56 extends from thisopening to substantially the bottom of the container 11 so that all ofthe water in the container may be removed as long as there is a pressuresource available.

A cartridge 57 containing gas under pressure may be provided with femalethreads securing the cartridge over the boss 24 in such a way that thegas pressure in the cartridge 57 will place the water in the containerunder the same pressure. Many modifications of this arrangement may, ofcourse, be used including control means for metering the gas deliveredfrom the cartridge 57, and of course the gas 57 may be liquified, sothat its expansion into a gas may itself have a cooling effect on thewater in the container 11. Still another method is to have the cartridge57 merely filled with compressed air, or to employ a suitable handpumpfor providing air under pressure above the water so that it willcontinue to flow through the bubbler tube 39 even though it may benecessary to do away with the use of the continuously running waternormally intended for use with the device of the present invention.

The device of my present invention has been shown in a preferredembodiment in the drawings, and such preferred embodiment described indetail so that those skilled in the art may understand the manner ofpracticing the invention. The scope of the invention, however, isdefined by the claims.

I claim:

1. In a drinking water fountain;

(a) an inner water container with a neck portion, and

a top opening in said neck portion,

(b) an outer housing spaced from said container and including (1) anupper housing portion closely engaging said neck, said neck having anannular recess, and a gasket disposed in said recess and engaging saidupper housing portion, and

(2) a bottom housing portion,

(3) annular tongue and groove portions on said said bottom and tophousing portions respectfully being in pressed locking relation,

(0) space between said container and outer housing provided with heatinsulation material,

(d) a cap releasably connected to the container to close said topopening,

(e) a recessed threaded boss on said cap for attachment of a fitting todeliver water under pressure to the container,

(f) a bubbler spout secured to said cap,

(g) a passageway between said container and spout,

and

(h) spring-actuated valve means normally closing said passageway, saidvalve means being digitally compressible to deliver water to saidbubbler spout.

2. In a drinking water fountain;

(a) an inner water container with a neck portion, and

a top opening in said neck portion,

(b) an outer housing spaced from said container and including (1) anupper housing portion closely engaging said neck, said neck having anannular recess, and a gasket disposed in said recess and engaging saidupper housing portion, and

(2) a bottom housing portion,

(3) annular tongue and groove portions on said bottom and top housingportions respectfully being in pressed locking relation,

(c) space between said container and outer housing provided with heatinsulation material,

(d) a cap releasably connected to the container to close said topopening,

(e) a recessed threaded boss on said cap for attachment of a fitting todeliver water under pressure to the container,

(f) a bubbler spout secured to said cap,

(g) a passageway between said container and spout,

(h) spring-actuated valve means normally closing said passageway, saidvalve means being digitally compressible to deliver water to saidbubbler spout, and

(i) means forming a part of said upper housing portion forming adrainage receptacle, said receptacle positioned to receive water fromsaid bubbler spout when the path of such water is unobstructed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,071,753 9/1913 Kellan 239-281,158,104 10/1915 Bryan 239-293 2,238,093 4/1941 Brandt 239-24 3,142,4437/1964 Morgan 23924 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Exiaminer.

1. IN A DRINKING WATER FOUNTAIN; (A) AN INNER WATER CONTAINER WITH A NECK PORTION, AND A TOP OPENING IN SAID NECK PORTION, (B) AN OUTER HOUSING SPACED FROM SAID CONTAINER AND INCLUDING (1) AN UPPER HOUSING PORTION CLOSELY ENGAGING SAID NECK, SAID NECK HAVING AN ANNULAR RECESS, AND A GASKET DISPOSED IN SAID RECESS AND ENGAGING SAID UPPER HOUSING PORTION, AND (2) A BOTTOM HOUSING PORTION, (3) ANNULAR TONGUE AND GROOVE PORTIONS ON SAID SAID BOTTOM AND TOP HOUSING PORTIONS RESPECTFULLY BEING IN PRESSED LOCKING RELATION, (C) SPACE BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER AND OUTER HOUSING PROVIDED WITH HEAT INSULATION MATERIAL, (D) A CAP RELEASABLY CONNECTED TO THE CONTAINER TO CLOSE SAID TOP OPENING, (E) A RECESSED THREADED BOSS ON SAID CAP FOR ATTACHMENT OF A FITTING TO DELIVER WATER UNDER PRESSURE TO THE CONTAINER, (F) A BUBBLER SPOUT SECURED TO SAID CAP, (G) A PASSAGEWAY BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER AND SPOUT, AND (H) SPRING-ACTUATED VALVE MEANS NORMALLY CLOSING SAID PASSAGEWAY, SAID VALVE MEANS BEING DIGITALLY COMPRESSIBLE TO DELIVER WATER TO SAID BUBBLER SPOUT. 